Terminal fixture aperture indicator



Sept. 24, 1935. E. w. DIECKMANN TERMINAL FIXTURE AFERTURE INDICATORFiled Aug. 16, 1935 m fnflr l l rn/I" INVENTOR EHZfiieciamamz M )ZmATTORNEY Patented Sept. 24, 1935 PATENT OFFICE TERDIINAL FlXTUREAPERTURE INDICATOR Edna W. Dieckmann, Orange, N. J.

Application August 16, 1933, Serial No. 685,317

1 Claim.

The main object of this invention is to provide means by which theapertures in receptacles, slide plugs and screw plugs may be indicatedand made v apparent and when the relationship of the indi- 5 cator tothe aperture becomes fixed in the mind it will be found to be arelatively simple matter to insert the desired terminal members. Aperson .within a room with a subdued light finds it exceedinglydifficult and tiresome to match or align the terminal fingers of a slipplug with the apertures of a receptacle fixture for the reason thatwhen-infrequently used by the person the relative positions of theapertures are only I vaguely fixed in the mind. A great deal oftinkering and turning to gain alignment of the related parts isnecessary before exact alignment is had. This is depressinglyirksome andguesswork at best and to eliminate this condition I propose to providean indicator which shows the relationship of the apertures to thefixture being inserted.

The above and other objects will become apparent in the descriptionbelow, in which characters of reference refer to like-named parts in thedrawing.

Referring briefly to the drawing, Figure 1 is a perspective view of aso-called receptacle showing the indicator embedded in place between theapertures.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a three-way outlet plug showingassorted geometrically shaped indicators between the apertures.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a screw plug showing the indicator inplace thereon.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the numeral fill indie-ates anornamental base plate of a receptacle. The entire base plate is securedover an outlet member in a conventional manner. A screw 1 l holds theplate secured to the remainder of the structure. A pair of openings l2and I3, symmetrical in outline, receive the insert bodies it and H5. Thelatter are provided with sunken wells it which are subdivided bya ridgeH. At the base of these subdivided wells the insert apertures i8 and iiiare located. I

At the apex of each ridge il a strip 20 of any desirable material ofcontrasting color, is embedded and extends in the same direction as theapertures in the manner illustrated in Figure l. Figure 2 shows athree-way plug comprising a body 28 moulded in the form of a cross fromwhich a pair of terminal fingers 22 extend. These fingers project fromone of the arms of the cross. The faces 2?. of the remaining arms areprovided with depressions M in which the aligned aper- (tCl. 173-343)tures 25 for the terminals of a complemental plug are located. Betweenthe apertures assorted geometrically shaped indicating strips 2b aremounted.

In Figure 3 another modification is shown. 6

This view represents the old and well-known type of screw plug whichcomprises a cylindrical body 2i having a helically threaded shell 28 atits. lower end and a flanged head 29. Apertures 3B penetrate the face offlanged head and located 10 between these apertures is a linearindicating strip 3|. An enlargement 31a is provided and is integral withthe strip, the enlargement is so constructed as to pass thru the centerlines of the two apertures 30, so that the centers of said aperl5 turesare indicated.

My invention consists in providing a strip of contrasting color betweenthe terminal apertures so that 'the user may at all times visualize anddetermine the positions of the apertures and plug 20 in accordingly.Where rooms and chambers have subdued light or insufiicient illuminationthe surface of these indicating strips or aperture finders may be coatedwith an iridescent or luminous pigment'so that these members may be 25plainly seen from an appreciable distance. By prior education the userof this type of device is informed that the indicator no matter what itsgeometrical shape extends parallel of and between th'e apertures or indefinite relation to said 30 apertures. Said strips will generallyassume these positions- When this knowledge is fixed in the mind it isrelatively simple for the user to determine the exact position of theapertures by noting the angle the luminous or iridescent strip 35 vassumes.

It is to be noted that certain changes in form. and construction may bemade without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim: 40

In combination withan electrical fixture having aligned parallellyextending apertures formed therein for reception of complementalmembers, means for indicating a definite angle at which the aperturesare placed comprising a strip having 45 tapering ends and outwardlyflared middle of a color contrasting to the fixture, said strip beingadapted to have a linear geometrically shaped form, an enlargement onsaid strip, said enlargement passing thru the center lines of said aper-5d tures, said strip extending parallel to said apertures between thelatter and said strip being iridescent or luminous.

